JOHANNESBURG – Dean Burmester played a precision game off the tee and posted a 5-under-par 67 on Saturday as he went three shots clear after the third round of the R1.5-million Eye of Africa PGA Championship.
His round took him to 16-under for the tournament, and his three-shot gap was a comfortable cushion over second-placed Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who fired a 4-under 68 to move to 13-under.
Four players are in a share of third on 12-under – Dylan Frittelli, who shot the round of the day with his 8-under 64, Makhetha Mazibuko, who wasn’t too far off Frittelli’s mark with his 65, MJ Viljoen and halfway leader Justin Hicks from the United States.
“I drove the ball really nicely today,” said Burmester. “I’m really happy with the way I played, and I really like the golf course.
“I just see a lot of things here, and I really like the greens. It was nice to make a couple of putts, and I hope there’s more of the same tomorrow.”
Burmester came second in this tournament last year, losing to Jaco van Zyl in a play-off, and is currently battling to break on to the European Tour – hoping that a victory this week and perhaps one in the following three big tournaments on the Sunshine Tour will be decisive for him.
Being at home in South Africa helps. “I’m in a really good space at the moment,” he said.
“I’m happy to have my family around me, and there are a lot of friends in and on the tour. It’s nice being home, where there is obviously massive support. That puts me in a really good frame of mind and playing well helps with the confidence too.”
Burmester is long off the tee, but he was also wily during the third round, surprising everyone with his choice of club.
“I hit two-iron off the tee on the par-five 17th,” he said. “I’ve been struggling with that tee-shot since last year. It’s just not one that I fancy too much. It was into the wind today, and I thought three-wood was still going to get to that fairway bunker.
“So I thought I might as well lay up a two-iron short of the bunker. That would leave me a two-iron, or at worst a three-wood in. At least that would have given me a chance to go for the green.
“I hit a great first one straight up the middle, and I hit a great second one, which came up just a little short. Unfortunately, my chip on released a little more than I thought it would and I missed the putt. When I get on that tee tomorrow, I hope I’ll get it right and make a four.”
He’ll be facing Bezuidenhout in tournament play for the first time – something which the youngster, who won his first Sunshine Tour title just last year, is looking forward to.
“Dean’s been playing great golf for a year or two now,” said Bezuidenhout. “So I’ll try and make some early birdies and see if I can put pressure on him.”
Burmester is also relishing the clash. “It will be the first time Christiaan and I will be playing together,” he said.
“He’s a massive talent in South Africa. He’s just a thrilling young gun. I’m excited to see what will happen. I’m sure it will be a great battle.”